Adriamycin‐vitamin E combination therapy for treatment of prostate adenocarcinoma in the NB rat model

Abstract

Adriamycin used in combination with vitamin E (Tocopherol) was evaluated in the treatment of Nb rat prostate adenocarcinoma. Vitamin E has been shown to enhance the growth‐inhibitory effects of adriamycin on human prostatic carcinoma cells in vitro. The adriamycin‐vitamin E treatment groups had the lowest average final tumor volume, but the mortality rate was 57% (17/30). These results suggest that vitamin E may play a role in enhancing the cytotoxic effects of adriamycin, but may not have any protective effect on normal cells as previously suggested through in vitro methods.